Consistent. Principled. Action.

Citizens,
1) Collin County Days in Austin was very well-attended, well-organized, and well-received. The Chambers of Commerce did a superb job, including coordinating excellent speakers and panelists. Governor Rick Perry keynoted the opening luncheon and set the tone for a successful two days interacting with our legislators and state-wide elected leaders. Numerous meetings were held with all our legislators on subjects of importance to Collin County, including my opportunity to outline our legislative priorities to Governor Perry.

2) The Collin County Republican Party has a really excellent speaker lined up for Lincoln Day Dinner on Feb 20. Michelle Malkin is a nationally recognized and sought-after speaker, columnist, and writer who will entertain and enlighten you with her analysis of the current state of affairs at the national level. Equally impressive is the Master of Ceremonies - Mark Davis, a well-known and popular talk show host here in Dallas. I recommend that you join us for a great evening.

3) Legislative priorities

a) Protect our citizens from the Transportation Funding Area bill. See a more detailed discussion at #4 below.

b) Protect our citizens from HB 515, The Dallas County Hospital District bill that could double your Collin County taxes in order to fund Parkland Hospital. Even Dallas County, in their brochure advocating the $750 million Parkland Hospital bond that they now want Collin County to help pay for, stated that more than 90% of Parkland patients live in Dallas County and that patients in the trauma unit have individual insurance to cover treatment costs "at no cost to the Dallas County taxpayer." Now why does Parkland Hospital require Collin County tax money?

c) Support the Collin County Toll Road Authority as another tool in the toolbox to build the Collin County Outer Loop. The North Texas Tollway Authority is doing the heavy lifting on a number of toll roads in the region, including some that are not currently financially feasible, so it is increasingly important that Collin County move the County Outer Loop forward when it becomes necessary and feasible in order to continue to provide transportation to our growing population.

d) Support a bill to allow price to play a part in selection of engineering firms for professional services contracts. We can cut costs to the taxpayer without sacrificing one bit of safety.

e) Absent a regional effort (which does not seem to be developing) support a bill to authorize moving the $3.2 Billion in regional SH121 funds into the North Texas region.

4) The Transportation Funding Area would be a new taxing district that would impose a whole series of potential new taxes to fund transportation projects. This new taxing district would be in addition to your school district, city, county, and community college property taxes, in addition to the tolls that you pay on the 121 and George Bush tollways, and in addition to the transportation bonds that you approved in 2007. The TFA bill seems to be written so that it goes around the fiscally responsible Collin County Commissioners Court. First, the Regional Transportation Council selects projects for Collin County - Collin County has only 4 seats of 44 total seats on the council. Remember, the RTC is the organization that overcharged Collin County by $600 Million from the NTTA advance payment to the region on SH121. Second, the bill gives city councils that represent a total of 60% of county population the authority to force an election on the whole county.

Your fiscally responsible Commissioners Court will be delivering our views of this new taxing district across the county and in Austin.

The potential taxes add up to a hefty chunk. (Note: these are changing as the bill evolves.)

- A new county gas tax of up to 10 cents per gallon. This is in addition to any increased federal gas tax or increased state gas tax. And the legislature has not yet fully committed to stopping the diversions of the gas tax that you already pay to non-transportation expenditures.

- A parking fee up to $1 per hour.

- A "mobility improvement fee" up to $60.

- An annual emissions fee up to $15.

- A driver's license fee of up to $24.

- A roadway impact on initial vehicle registration fee up to $250.

This bill is structured with the belief that you, the voter, will vote for any tax that is put on a ballot with no discernment whether or not the added tax is absolutely necessary or not. Where is the review to make sure that every tax dollar is being spent as wisely as possible before we add yet another tax? Where is the prioritization to make sure that your tax dollars are being spent for the most important government functions? More taxes of every kind is always the answer from most government entities because that is what increases their power and authority, but limits the review of how they spend the tax dollars you already give them. Sometimes I think that elected officials confuse government with a commercial company - something to be grown as large as possible.

What you can do: Be aware. Watch the progress of this bill. Watch the language that is used; language that will mirror the language used for the federal stimulus package - something must be done or a catastrophe will happen. Call or write (do not email) your state representative. Call or write your city council.

5) Please pass these emails to your friends so that the transparency of county politics continues to grow, that more citizens become aware of the actions of YOUR government.

Sincerely,
Keith